Thread by @MadhvaHistory

1. This is a real life account. No fiction. No exaggeration. A chapter from life's "kaThinOpanishat."

Sri Jagarlamudi Nageshwara Sharma Bhagawatar (78 yrs) & Smt. Bhramaramba (69 yrs) could be seen pulling the old cycle & pulling the life along with it in a street in Tirupati.

2. Sri Nageshwara Sharma was a well known Harikatha artiste in his heydays during 1960s & 70s. Performed in almost all metro cities in Dakshina Bharata. He won many accolades from the rasikas of those times. Made a name for himself.

3. But 'hari chitta satya harichitta nara chittaviddante naDeyAdu lavalESha' - True are the Paramatma's resolves & nothing goes as mortals wish. His two sons drifted away at young age. One committed suicide with no reason to cite & one ran away from home.

4. It took many years for the couple to get over the grief of losing their only hopes of a settled future. A friend in need is a friend indeed. Sri Sharma got back to Harikatha kAlakshEpa on an encouragement from a friend. But the times have changed by then!

5. Age, failing health & the blurred vision took toll on the once charming performance of Bhagavatar. No audience is just another factor. Yet Sri Sharma didn't look back. 'Adaddella oLatE aayitu" - whatever happened has happened for good & for Hari sEva only.

6. Sri Sharma could not stand & perform the art. There is organisation or event manager to set a stage for him. Not many rasikA-s left to lend a ear. But there is this jaganmAta - naDivIdhi gangamma who gave Her small shrine as a stage. Couple bring chairs to sit.

7. Shri Sharma commences harikatha with Gangamma being sole patron & dharmapatni as the only audience. I could be wrong to say so! Am sure there shall be many dEvI-s & dEvatA-s gathered in their invisible forms to listen to Hari's katha! After all, Tirupati is bhUvaikunTha!!

8. For Sri Sharma & Smt. Bhramaramba, Hari is the only son, protector & benefactor. Of course, Hari's sister Gangamma too is with them. The self respecting daMpati-s don't crave for free money. They don't demand for freebies. They feel happy if we listen to harikatha.

9. If you are visiting Tirupati & can spare few minutes, please do come to Nadiveedhi Gangamma temple, near Rajanna Park, Tirupati. Be there by 5pm. Have darshan of Gangamma. Listen to Sri Sharma's Harikatha. Am sure you won't feel disappointed.

10. The meaning of "swalpamapyasya dharmasya..." can be understood after seeing this spirited couple who braved the tests & tribulations thrown by a tsunami called LIFE. Dharma never leaves the adherents.

"dharma Eva hatO hanti | dharmO rakShati rakShitaH"

//HARE SHRINIVASA//

Thanks to @sivachalla999 for sharing the photographs & additional info. Blessings to @MPraveera who let me know about Sri Sharma & Smt. Bhramaramba.